Empowered Wisely. Grew the Kingdom.

King Solomon was giving the kingdom by his father, David.  King Solomon was given wisdom by his Father, God.  Now, king Solomon must decide to do with the power, position, and wisdom.

King Solomon now ruled over all Israel, and these were his high officials…  (1 Kings 4:1-2 NLT)

He used this combination to rule the nation of Israel wisely.  He administered justice, as we saw yesterday, to even the people outcast by the rest of their culture.  He delegated wisely, as we see today, to many people who would lead various areas of the kingdom.  The result?  The kingdom grew.

The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They were very contented, with plenty to eat and drink. Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of the Philistines and the border of Egypt in the south. The conquered peoples of those lands sent tribute money to Solomon and continued to serve him throughout his lifetime. (1 Kings 4:20-21 NLT)

We’ve been looking at Jesus’ model prayer where he taught us to pray, “Your Kingdom come.  Your will be done here on earth just as it is in heaven.”  We’ve been asking what that looks like.  This is a part of that prayer.  When God’s Kingdom comes, the leaders follow God’s Wisdom.  These leaders empower other leaders with Godly Wisdom.  In the end, God’s Kingdom grows in wisdom as it grows in numerically.  The two are tied together in a way that cannot be separated.

God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt.  And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon. (1 Kings 4:29-30, 34 NLT)

How about you?  Do you grow in the Wisdom that comes from God?  Do you empower others with the Wisdom of God?  Does God’s Kingdom grow around you?

Administered Justice

Solomon is the king of Israel, now.  His father, David, left final instructions and then went home to be with The LORD.  So Solomon, feeling like a child who is ill-equipped for the job, asks The LORD for wisdom.  The LORD gives it to him.

Some time later two prostitutes came to the king to have an argument settled. (1 Kings 3:16 NLT)

Now I’ve heard and read this story many times, so I was surprised to read the opening line.  I looked up the word for “prostitutes” to make sure the translation was correct.  It is.  These women were adulterous, harlots, and/or prostitutes.  Women that their society would have cast aside as evil were seeking an audience with the king.

"Please, my lord," one of them began, "this woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a baby while she was with me in the house. Three days later this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there were only two of us in the house. "But her baby died during the night when she rolled over on it. Then she got up in the night and took my son from beside me while I was asleep. She laid her dead child in my arms and took mine to sleep beside her. And in the morning when I tried to nurse my son, he was dead! But when I looked more closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't my son at all." Then the other woman interrupted, "It certainly was your son, and the living child is mine." "No," the first woman said, "the living child is mine, and the dead one is yours." And so they argued back and forth before the king. (1 Kings 3:17-22 NLT)

Not only did these women seek an audience with the king, but the king granted it.  The children the had were outside of marriage, probably as a result of their “night job.”  Again, these children would have been unimportant at best and an embarrassment at worse for their society.  Yet, Solomon listened to their case and watched as they broke down into an argument in front of him.

Then the king said, "Let's get the facts straight. Both of you claim the living child is yours, and each says that the dead one belongs to the other. All right, bring me a sword." So a sword was brought to the king. Then he said, "Cut the living child in two, and give half to one woman and half to the other!" (1 Kings 3:23-25 NLT)

I wonder what I would have thought had I been standing there at that moment.  Would I be callous, roll my eyes, and think, “Just get these women out of here, Solomon.  You’re the king of all Israel. You have better things to do with your time.”  Would I think the women are getting the kind of “justice” they deserve for their actions?  Would I think the king was losing his mind?  Cut the child in half?  What is he doing?

Then the woman who was the real mother of the living child, and who loved him very much, cried out, "Oh no, my lord! Give her the child--please do not kill him!" But the other woman said, "All right, he will be neither yours nor mine; divide him between us!" Then the king said, "Do not kill the child, but give him to the woman who wants him to live, for she is his mother!" (1 Kings 3:26-27 NLT)

Have you ever had one of those moments when everything finally makes sense?  All the puzzle pieces just seem to fall in place.  It takes a minute, though, to back up and see the whole picture.  This was one of those moments.  Solomon hadn’t lost his mind.  Solomon just made sure that the right mom was reunited with her child.  Solomon was administering justice.

When all Israel heard the king's decision, the people were in awe of the king, for they saw the wisdom God had given him for rendering justice. (1 Kings 3:28 NLT)

How about you?  Do you treat people with respect, even if our society casts them away as being unimportant or even evil?  Do you take the time to pay attention to their story – where they are coming from, where they are, and where they are going?  If you were in charge, would you exercise God-given wisdom to administer justice?

God Provides It

Solomon knew he was out of his league.  He knew that his responsibility as king of Israel far weighed his ability to do the job.  So, he turned to God.  He asked for wisdom.  The big question becomes, then, “How will God respond?  Will God say ‘Yes’ and give Solomon the wisdom he needs?  Will God deny the request outright and tell Solomon he already has what he needs to do the job?  Or will God respond with the ever-dreaded, ‘Wait,’ telling Solomon to give it some time.  Solomon asked for wisdom.  Will God provide?

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. So God replied, "Because you have asked for wisdom in governing My people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies--I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! (1 Kings 3:10-12 NLT)

God said yes!  Solomon will receive wisdom.  Not only that, God is so pleased with Solomon’s request that God will pour out more blessings on Solomon as well.

And I will also give you what you did not ask for--riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! And if you follow Me and obey My decrees and My commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life." (1 Kings 3:13-14 NLT)

We often talk about whether these Old Testament stories apply to our lives today or not, but they do.  When Solomon asks for wisdom, God provides it immediately.  God offers us the same gift today as well.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. (James 1:5 NLT)

Our generous God wants to give us wisdom.  We simply need to ask.  The problem is that we usually don’t ask for it.  I lift up many, many prayer requests each week for people I am connected to in life.  Many of those requests, unfortunately, boil down to requests for long life, wealth, fame, or even punishment of our enemies.  Very few of those request are for wisdom.  I always think to myself, “That’s too bad.  God would say ‘Yes’ to a request for wisdom…if they would only ask.”

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. (James 1:5-8 NLT)

We can’t fake God out, either.  We can’t ask for wisdom when we really just want enough money to keep our nice house, fancy car, or boat.  God sees right through that.  We can’t ask for help forgiving people who wronged us when we secretly want them to get what they deserve.  God will see right through that as well.  God gives us what we need to forgive.  We simply need to forgive.  You see, God wants to give us wisdom because wisdom leads us to the life that God has in store for us.  The question is not whether God will provide or not. The question is simple: “Will we ask?”

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. (James 3:17 NLT)

How about you?  Do you ask God for wisdom?  Does God provide?

Asks for Wisdom

At that time the people of Israel sacrificed their offerings at local places of worship, for a temple honoring the name of the LORD had not yet been built. Solomon loved the LORD and followed all the decrees of his father, David, except that Solomon, too, offered sacrifices and burned incense at the local places of worship. The most important of these places of worship was at Gibeon, so the king went there and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings. (1 Kings 3:2-4 NLT)

I don’t know if you think about this much, or ever for that matter, but how do you approach God when you have a question?  Do you walk boldly in and ask the King of Kings your question or do you bring gifts first, hoping that our King will invite you in?  Solomon seems to be trying the second option here.  He brings in a lot of gifts (1,000) with the hopes of gaining an audience with his King.

That night the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!" Solomon replied, "You showed faithful love to Your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to You. And You have continued Your faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne. "Now, O LORD my God, You have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn't know his way around. And here I am in the midst of Your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! (1 Kings 3:5-8 NLT)

Solomon was given his audience with the King and he began to dump everything in front of Him.  Clearly Solomon had been thinking about this moment.  Clearly he had something to say.  Solomon felt out of his league.  He felt overwhelmed.  He felt insecure and unable to bear the responsibility on his shoulders.  He felt “like a little child who doesn’t know his way around.”  Solomon was king of Israel and knew he needed help.  So, he asked The LORD.

Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern Your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of Yours?" (1 Kings 3:9 NLT)

How about you?  Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the calling that God has placed on you and your life?  Do you seek an audience with the King when you do?  When God gives you the opportunity to speak, do you know what you are going to say?  Do you ask for wisdom?

Sometimes Wrong

Solomon was given the kingdom of Israel.  As I mentioned yesterday, this responsibility came with many, many tough decisions.  In the early part of his reign, Solomon squelches a rebellion by his half-brother, removes the religious leader (High Priest), and puts his military leader to death.  Then he cleans up some other old business left behind by his father, David.  Finally, the kingdom was firmly in Solomon’s grip.

Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and married one of his daughters. He brought her to live in the City of David until he could finish building his palace and the Temple of the LORD and the wall around the city. (1 Kings 3:1 NLT)

His next move, marrying one of Pharaoh’s daughters, seems like a shrewd political move.  With his daughter living in Solomon’s home, Pharaoh would be a fool to attack Israel for any reason.  Solomon seems to be making one of those wise decisions he is so famous for making.  There’s just one small problem.  He was not supposed to return to Egypt.

"The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the LORD has told you, 'You must never return to Egypt.' (Deuteronomy 17:16 NLT)

Solomon made a bad decision.  Had he known his Scriptures better, he would have avoided this mistake.  But he didn’t.  It calls into question all his other decisions as well.  Was he being just by putting those people to death?  Did he let the right ones live?  Should he have honored the people he honored?  We may never know the answers to these questions.  We do know, however, that Solomon was sometimes wrong.  The princess of Egypt testifies to that fact.

So, how about you?  Do you struggle with tough decisions sometimes?  How often?  When you make those tough decisions, are you sometimes wrong?

Tough Decisions

It may sound great to hear David’s last words to his son, Solomon, as he passes the kingship down to him.  His last words, however, were not all positive, uplifting, and inspiring.  Some of them caused me to double-take.

You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did...don't let him grow old and go to his grave in peace. (1 Kings 2:5-6 NLT)

"Be kind to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead... (1 Kings 2:7 NLT)

"And remember Shimei son of Gera...you will know how to arrange a bloody death for him." (1 Kings 2:8-9 NLT)

Don’t let him grow old and go to his grave in peace?  You will know how to arrange a bloody death for him?  These were tough instructions to receive from his father on his death bed.  What will Solomon do with these?  Will follow his father’s actions and allow these men, who have wronged David and the kingdom, to live?  Or, will he honor his father by following his last instructions here in this life?  What does Solomon do?  He does what David asks him to do.  Here are some of the first big decisions Solomon makes as king.

Adonijah (Solomon’s half-brother) put to death (for rebellion)... (1 Kings 2:13-25)

Abiathar (the priest) deposed (fulfilling a prophecy)... (1 Samuel 2:27-36, 1 Kings 2:26-27)

Joab (commander of the military) put to death (as David commanded)… (1 Kings 2:28-34)

Benaiah replaces Joab as commander. Zadok replaces Abiathar as priest. (1 Kings 2:35)

Shimei killed (following David’s wishes)… (1 Kings 2:36-45)

So the kingdom was now firmly in Solomon's grip. (1 Kings 2:46)

How about you?  Do you make decisions based on what will be popular?  Do you make decisions based on what a parent or mentor would do?  Do you make decisions following some other criteria?  How do you handle tough decisions?

Wisdom of a King

"I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. (1 Kings 2:2 NLT)

Last week, we watched as King David prepared to leave this life and go into the next.  He appointed his son, Solomon, to be the next king of Israel.  Solomon would also become the greatest king in Israel’s history.  Before going, David gave Solomon some important advice.

Observe the requirements of the LORD your God, and follow all His ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. (1 Kings 2:3 NLT)

Solomon is about to become king over a nation of millions.  He will need to provide Israel what they need to eat, protect Israel against their enemies, and administer justice so the Israelites will love their neighbor as themselves.  Solomon will need great wisdom to get the job done.  Solomon will need the wisdom to be a king.  He will need the wisdom that comes from The LORD.

If you do this, then the LORD will keep the promise He made to me. He told me, 'If your descendants live as they should and follow Me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.' (1 Kings 2:4 NLT)

How about you?  What challenges do you face in life?  What roles to you live out in life?  Do you seek wisdom to live out your life?  Do you want the wisdom of a king?